The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is a division of the Executive Office of the President that coordinates federal environmental efforts in the United States and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental and energy policies and initiatives. The most recent CEQ chairman was Nancy Sutley and was appointed by President Barack Obama December 15th 2008 and confirmed by the Senate January 22nd 2009.[1] Sutley announced that she would step down as Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality in February, 2014. [2]

In enacting NEPA, Congress recognized that nearly all federal activities affect the environment in some way and mandated that before Federal agencies make decisions, they must consider the effects of their actions on the quality of the human environment. Under NEPA, CEQ works to balance environmental, economic, and social objectives in pursuit of NEPA's goal of "productive harmony" between humans and the human environment.[3]

The CEQ reports annually to the president on the state of the environment, oversees federal agency implementation of the environmental impact assessment process, and acts as a referee when agencies disagree over the adequacy of such assessments.

NEPA assigns the CEQ the task of ensuring that federal agencies meet their obligations under the Act. The challenge of harmonizing our economic, environmental and social aspirations has put NEPA and CEQ at the forefront of our nation's efforts to protect the environment.

Through interagency working groups and coordination with other EOP components, CEQ works to advance the president's agenda. It also balances competing positions, and encourages government-wide coordination, bringing federal agencies, state, and local governments, and other stakeholders together on matters relating to the environment, natural resources, and energy.

During the George W. Bush Administration, there were concerns over links between CEQ staff members and industry. The organization was described as "a hard-line group of advisers with close links to the U.S. oil industry".[6]